Joana

My Summary

My Experience

Growing up with a younger sister gave me hands-on experience supporting a child through different stages of development. As she got older, I often helped guide and support her through challenging periods, helping her navigate difficulties and build confidence. This taught me the importance of patience, communication, and adapting my approach to each child's individual needs.
I currently babysit for my partner's uncle's twin boys. They are energetic, lively, and full of personality, which means every day is different. While they can sometimes be challenging, I have built a great relationship with them and am usually able to calm situations, encourage positive behaviour, and keep them engaged in activities they enjoy.
I also studied Psychology at A-Level, and child psychology was one of the areas that interested me most. I still apply what I learned about positive and negative reinforcement, emotional development, and behaviour management when interacting with children today. Understanding why children behave the way they do has helped me become a more patient and effective caregiver.
In addition, my best friend comes from a similar family background, and I have spent many years around her many younger siblings. They know me well, enjoy spending time with me, and generally behave positively when I am around. Through these experiences, I have become comfortable caring for children of different ages, personalities, and energy levels.
This combination of family experience, practical childcare, and knowledge of child psychology has given me the confidence to care for children in a calm, responsible, and supportive way.

My Qualifications

Outwood Grange Academy
- September 2017 to July 2022
GCSE results:
Maths, higher 7
English Language 8
English Literature 8
Biology 6
Physics 6
Chemistry 7
Art 7
History 7
Portuguese 8
Spanish 9

Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College
– September 2022 to June 2024
A-Level results:
Architecture A*
Spanish A
Psychology A

University of Manchester
- September 2024 to Present
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
Current: Level 6 (Going into 3rd Year)

My Availability

I have marked a very wide availability because I genuinely want to be available as much as possible for families and understand that childcare needs can vary from week to week. As a university student, I try to keep my weekends flexible for rest, catching up on coursework, and occasional cleaning side jobs, but this does not mean I am fully unavailable during those times.
I would appreciate parents messaging me before making a booking request so that I can confirm my availability and make sure I can fully commit to the dates and times needed. I always do my best to accommodate families wherever possible and will be honest and communicative if there are any scheduling conflicts, with clearer timetables available as each week rolls on. My goal is to be as flexible, reliable, and helpful as I can for both the parents and the children.

My Fees

• Babysitting from £10.00 per hour

My standard rate of £10 per hour applies where children's meals and snacks are provided by you, the home is in a reasonably tidy condition, and my travel costs are covered in addition to the £10p/h. If additional responsibilities are required, such as shopping for ingredients, preparing meals from scratch, or taking on significant household tasks beyond normal childcare duties, these can be discussed in advance. I'm more than happy to do these extras, however the fee would increase depending on your requests.
For the safety and wellbeing of all children in my care, I ask that any allergies, dietary requirements, medical conditions, sensory sensitivities, or important routines are clearly communicated before the booking. This allows me to prepare appropriately and ensure a safe and comfortable experience for everyone.
I am a very confident and enthusiastic home cook and enjoy preparing a wide variety of meals. I have experience cooking dishes from different cuisines and cultural backgrounds and I am happy to adapt to a family's preferences, traditions, and dietary requirements where possible.
If children's food is not available in the home, I am happy to discuss options with parents beforehand, including collecting ingredients or arranging a grocery delivery where appropriate. Any additional costs would need to be reimbursed by the family.
My aim is to provide reliable, engaging, and supportive childcare while maintaining clear communication with parents so expectations are understood on both sides.